The roar echoed for miles—A thunderous sound that split the clouds and made the frozen peaks tremble.
From the heart of the tundra, a colossal shape emerged—Scales that shimmered like molten gold, eyes like twin suns, and wings so vast they darkened the entire valley.
The Northern Dragon had awakened.
Its breath steamed the snow into mist, and its gaze swept the land before locking on one figure standing alone upon the battlefield—Arden.
"You have finally awakened," he murmured.
Celestia and the others drew back instinctively, their knees trembling under the dragon's aura.
"Th-that's no ordinary beast," Ryn whispered. "That's a primordial."
"A guardian," Celestia corrected softly. "Older than the gods themselves…"
The dragon's voice rumbled like mountains shifting.
"You bear my flame, mortal child."
The sound wasn't heard—it resonated inside their souls.
Arden raised his chin, meeting the ancient creature's gaze.His golden aura flickered in sync with the dragon's pulse.
"So it's true," he said quietly. "The power inside me—your power."
The dragon's eyes burned brighter.
"Not mine, but ours."
The air rippled, and suddenly visions flooded Arden's mind—Flashes of a golden battlefield, gods clashing against titans, fire consuming worlds.And in the center of it all… himself.
Not as Arden Norton.Not as a mortal.But as a being wreathed in divine flame—The Heaven-Slaying Dragon, the first who rebelled against the heavens.
Arden fell to one knee, clutching his head as memories poured in like a tidal wave.Voices, battles, flames—the weight of eternity pressing against his mortal mind.
"Arden!" Celestia cried, rushing toward him.
He raised a trembling hand. "Stay back… I'm fine."
The dragon's voice echoed once more, soft but thunderous.
"You were once my other half. The Dragon Soul that defied Heaven when it sought to chain the world. But you were struck down—your divine essence scattered, reborn among mortals."
"So I was… you?" Arden asked hoarsely.
"Part of me. The fire that refused to die. Now, you have grown strong enough to awaken the bond once more."
The dragon's head lowered until its golden eyes filled Arden's vision.
"Arden of the North. Will you reclaim what was lost?"
The question hung heavy, divine and final.
Celestia's hand trembled. "If you accept… you may stop being human."
Arden smiled faintly, flames dancing around his fingers.
"I stopped being just human the day I swore to protect this land."
He raised his hand toward the dragon.Their flames intertwined—golden and crimson—merging like twin rivers of power.
The air cracked with a sound like thunder, and the world itself seemed to breathe.
Light erupted from the tundra, a beacon piercing the clouds.
Arden's body lifted into the air, his aura expanding until it filled the entire valley.Runes of gold and crimson formed around him—ancient symbols of draconic divinity.
Celestia shielded her eyes. "He's… ascending!"
Ryn grit her teeth as the ground split around them. "He's fusing with the dragon's soul!"
The dragon's roar joined Arden's heartbeat, merging into one sound—neither man nor beast, but something greater.
When the light finally faded, Arden descended slowly.His hair now glowed faintly with golden strands, his eyes burning like twin embers.On his back, the faint outline of ethereal dragon wings flickered before fading into flame.
The dragon bowed its massive head.
"Rise, my heir. From this day, you are the Sovereign Flame of the North."
The soldiers of the North fell to their knees, struck silent by the divine presence.Even the wolves lowered their heads.
Arden looked down at them, his voice calm but commanding.
"The gods will come for us again. The Emperor won't stop until he burns this world to feed his Heaven."
He raised his sword high, golden flame igniting along its edge.
"But we will burn brighter."
His aura surged, igniting every torch, every campfire across the stronghold in unison.The flame of the North roared to life—symbol of unity, defiance, and rebirth.
"Let Heaven remember," Arden said. "That mortals bow to no one."
The soldiers roared in answer, their voices echoing across the mountains.
"TO THE DUKE OF THE NORTH!""TO LORD ARDEN!""TO THE FLAME THAT DEFIES HEAVEN!"
Even Celestia smiled softly, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"You've truly become something else…"
Arden turned toward her, his expression gentle.
"No. I've simply remembered who I was meant to be."
✦ The Dragon's Warning
As the cheers faded, the dragon's voice echoed one last time, low and solemn.
"The Emperor will not stand idle. The Seven Thrones awaken. Each governs a domain of existence—Time, Fate, Light, Death, Dreams, Chaos, and Law. When they descend, even I cannot protect you."
Arden nodded. "Then I'll destroy their Thrones too."
The dragon's laughter was deep, ancient, proud.
"Then perhaps, my heir, you will finish the rebellion I began."
Its golden eyes dimmed as its body turned to stone, becoming a monument overlooking the citadel—a silent guardian.
Arden watched it for a long moment.
"Rest now, old one. The flame will not die again."
In the night sky, new constellations formed—a dragon coiled around a blazing star.And far above, in the divine realm, the Emperor of Heaven watched in silence.
"So, the Dragon's heir has awakened," Seraphion murmured. "Then let the Thrones be assembled. Heaven shall burn, and I shall rise anew."
The war of gods and mortals had reached its second dawn.
And the North… was ready.